10 Places to Soak Up Spring on Georgia’s Antebellum Trail

Bear Hollow Zoo is a popular place for families to interact with Georgia’s native wildlife. Located in Memorial Park in Athens, this small wildlife trail is home to black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, owls and many other species of wild, free-living animals. Every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the exhibit hall is open to the public, featuring projects for younger visitors and live animals to see and touch. The park also features a mile-long nature trail, expansive playground equipment, a pond and a variety of settings for a picnic.

Oconee Forest Park is adjacent to the University of Georgia intramural complex and is a 60-acre natural area containing walking trails, a 1.2-mile mountain bike trail, a 15-acre lake and the largest scarlet oak in Georgia.

Washington Farms provides a fun, unique experience: picking your own strawberries straight from the field! The Farm will open for strawberry season in April and host their Super Spring Saturdays in April and May where visitors can enjoy farm activities and fun including wagon rides, a petting zoo, paintball, and more.

Heritage Park in Watkinsville is a quiet place to take a relaxing walk on the 2.5 miles of walking trails, a challenging bike excursion on the 9.5 miles of bike trails, a ride on the 4.5 miles of equestrian trails, a family picnic or just a place to breathe in fresh country air.

Hard Labor Creek State Park near Madison provides activities like fishing, kayaking, golfing and geocaching, and has something for everyone! Watch the little ones play in the shallow beach water while the adventurous teens set out on a kayaking adventure. Be sure to catch a moonlight movie in the park at the end of a fun-filled day!

The Rock Hawk Park on Lake Oconee in Eatonton is open to the public for hiking, biking, boating, camping, swimming, fishing, picnicking and hunting. This park functions as an outdoor classroom and has 15 miles of multi-use trails, plus 20 miles of biking trails. Join them on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for Trailhead Tuesdays.

The Oconee River Greenway Park and Riverwalk in Milledgeville offer trails, paths and boardwalks to walk, jog, bicycle, relax and enjoy the beauty and sounds of the Oconee River. The Greenway offers multiple individual fishing stations and a boat ramp. The river is navigable in many sections by canoe or kayak, and because its shoreline remains largely undeveloped, it offers an opportunity to see native bird and plant life. Parts of Milledgeville’s old 1892 grist mill and dam structures are still visible in the river just north of the bridge. Rent a kayak or float from Oconee Outfitters. Put into the water at the Oconee River Greenway and end your journey at Central State for a 6-hour floating trip, or use a paddle for a shorter expedition.

The Jarrell Plantation Historic Site near Gray is one of the last remaining examples of a vanishing culture with its authentic 19th and early 20th century plantation buildings typical to Middle Georgia representing the change from an agricultural to an industrial based economy. Today the plantation also holds a museum, gift shop, picnic area, and geocaching. Open Thursday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lake Tobesofkee is a year-round recreation area covering nearly 1,800 acres with 35 miles of shoreline located just outside Macon’s city limits. Three parks, each with a white sandy beach, surround the lake and offer activities such as swimming, fishing, boating, camping, water skiing, sailing and picnicking. Two of the parks (Claystone & Arrowhead) offer campsites with modern conveniences, while Sandy Beach Park is known for its water park.

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Accomodations in the Briar Patch are as diverse as the community itself. Whether you are looking for a rustic river cabin, or an upscale lakeside resort hotel, Putnam County has something for everyone. Hotel/Lodging Houses to Rent Camping and Cabins

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Arts & Culture Museums & Historic Sites Parks & Recreation Putnam County is a wonderland for architecture buffs, sports enthusiasts, adventure seekers, antique collectors, and luxury lovers. Eatonton is brimming full with Antebellum structures, mom and pop shops, local eateries, and the sweetest tea in the South. The county itself is surrounded by 2 lakes […]